Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-05-11

Discursivo Notes by Hon. d. L.. Kiehle,
b ' State Superintendent,

Discursivo Notes by Hon. L. L. Kiehle,
State Superintendent.
The people of Minnesota will be
pleased to know that the Department of
Public Instruction contemplate the pub
LEGATION OF various matters of informa-
ton pertaining to that branch of the
public service. State Superintendent
Kiehle has prepared the first of these
papers which he devotes to Estate Text
Books" ~ , 20, q
No legislature has done more important
work for the improvement Of our school
system than the n recently adjourned. It
will not be fully appreciated until we see
the results in the full operation Of the laws,
increasing by nearly half a million our cur
rent school fund, providing libraries of
choice reading in every neighborhood, and
improving U institute work and our high
schools. Allthis is, however, only the open
Ing up Of the work of education and not
the end Of it. 1t yet remains to be settled
how the means and facilities IT Jul COM
tory educational results. The men who
now pay these taxes so cheerfully and place
millions at the disposal of school authori.
ties have, a right to inquire whether this
money is reaching the brains of the children
through good instruction with favorable
surroundings.
It is with a desire to clearing the way for
the consideration Ut remaining problems, Of
encouraging the people to study important
questions and to be ready at a coming leg
islature to move still forward toward the
perfection Of our system of education that
L 7 cho IL 0qPo~ a fav~ n~@-r 100000 ~~->@ 49,
practical educational matters before us.
1nasmuch as there exists no little per-
plexity, dissatisfaction, and questioning re-
speeding the operation of the state text book
law, l shall devote this paper to that sub
jet in a ann somewhat personal to my
understand my attitude, nay interest, and
my responsibility in the execution of the
law. When a measure is popular it will not
lack for fathers and friends. but when its
wisdom is doubted it is difficult to find its
old advocates. In 1877 the legislature enacted
under which the state entered into a solemn
contract binding for fifteen years. It de-
serves TO be mentioned that whatever
credit there is in the device aud enactment
of this unique system, little or none of it be-
longs to the educators. Their advice and
principle that the selection of the instru-
ments of instruction as text books and ap-
p~aratus belonged to the local authorities
and ought not to be assumed by the state.
tits noticeable, by the way, that this view
prevailed at the Last meeting Of the state as
adopted approving temperance instruction
in the schools, but Directing to the selection
of a text book for the state. In assuming
the duties Of the Office of superintendent Of
public instruction it became my sworn duty
to execute this law in the interest of educa-
tIOn. WAS h0nn0 not nn1v tn administer
the law, but to report to the legislature such
recommendations as would remove defects
and increase its efficiency.
= With this understanding of my duty, 1
approved and recommended so much of the
bill of 1888 as changed the method of dis
tribution from b district clerk to the
county agency system. It soon appeared,
also, that some of the important books OF
the series were not such rs teachers had a
right to demand. The dissatisfaction was
for. I therefore recommended that the leg
islature provide for a revision by substitu-
ton; that is, by placing some new and good
book on the list in tbs place Of the old.
This met with no favor. Next I advised
that provision be made for a revision in an
jected also. Here, then, after seven years,
in which a generation had begun and end
ed their school life with books against the
use of which teachers had protested con-
tlnualy, there still remained eight years
more, the school lifetime of another genera
ton through which the condition of things
must continue to the utter Generalization
of our school work, and making wretched
results, none too good at the best. And, per-
haps, more harmful than all else has been
the influences Of an undisguised violation
of n law requiring obedience under severe
penalties on the part Of officers, teachers
and patrons of schools. There was bnt one
alternative, which was to undertake gra-
tuitously, and without provision by the
state, the work of securing for the coming
eight years q series of ext books that teach
ers will be satisfied to use, and that the
schools might use to advantage. g..
This I felt myself bound to do BY the very